Folding crib



D. D. LEAVITT Dec. 31, 1946.

FOLDING CRIB Filed Sept. ll, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet l D. D. LEAVITT FOLDING CRIB Dec. 31, 1946.

Filed Sept. ll, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 D. D. LEAVITT Dec. 31, 1946.

FOLDING CRIB Filed Sept. ll. 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 Inveaaoaf:

D. D. LEAVITT Dec. 3l, 1946.

FOLDING CRIB Filed Sept. ll, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 il* l I I llllll IRJJ e ||||||s lli.

Dec. 3l, 1946. D. D. LEAvlTT 2,413,457

FOLDING CRIB Filed Sept. 11, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 31, 194e UNITED STATES wrraN'l OFFICE Davia rivll Mass. .Application September 11, 1944, Serial lilo. 553,566

s claims. (ci. -99) I'his invention relates to folding cribs and has for its general object to provide a folding crib which is so constructed that some ofthe elements thereof can be folded together to constitute a carrying .case in which the remaining elements of the crib can be stored.

A further object of the invention .is to provide a folding crib of this type which is so constructed that when the folding crlbis folded and packed in the folded carrying case elements, the resulting carrying case has the genera1 shape and appearance of a suitcase and can be as easily and conveniently carried or transported as a suitcase, or other similar piece of luggage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding crib whichvls so constructed that when it is unfolded and'set up for use as a crib, it will have al1 the appearances ofv a regular full sized crib.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel folding crib which is so constructed that it can be unfolded and set up or folded and packed into the carrying case by anyone who has no specia1 mechanical ability and without the use of any special tools.

Further objects of the invention are to improve folding cribs in various particulars as will be more fully hereinafter set forth. l

In the drawings wherein I have illustrated a selected embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a crib embodying my invention which has been unfolded and set up ready for use,

Fig. 2 is a side view of the crib,

Fig. 3 is an end view thereof,

Fig. '4 is a perspective view showing the crib folded, said View illustrating the way in which certain elements of the crib, when folded, constitute a carrying case in which the other elements may be packed,

Fig. 5 is a side view illustrating the crib partly unfolded,

Figs. 6 and 7 ar/ fragmentary sectional views showing the means for locking the side rails in position.

My improved crib comprises a bottom portion l, two end members 2, side rail sections 3, and legs 4, 4a, 4b, and 4c.

The bottom portion I is made in three sections, i. e., a central section 5 and two end sections 6 and 1, said end sections being hinged to the central section to turn about a horizontal axis. The end section 6 is hinged to one edge of the central section 5 by suitable hinge 8 and the end section 'l is hinged to the other edge of the central section 5 by a hinge 9. The end section 6 is formed at each side with an upstanding side flange portion I0, and with a transversely extending end flange portion II which is shown as having the same height as the flanges I0. The other end section 'l is provided at each side with an upstanding flange section I2 of the same height as the flanges I0 and with a transversely extending end flange portion I3 which has a greater vertical dimension than the end flange II. The center section 5 has at each end an upstanding post member I4.

The bottom sections 5, 6, and 1 with the upstanding flanges I0 and` I.2 on end sections -8 and 1, together with the post elements I4 of the central section 5 constitute the elements of the carrying case such as shown in Fig. 4 into which the other elements, i. e., the end members 2 and the side rails 3 can be packed and stored. When the side rails 3 and end members 2 have beenffolded as will be presently described, then the section 6 can be folded about its hinge 8 so as to bring the edges I Ii of the flanges ill against the edges I5 of the post elements I4', and the bottom section 1 can also be folded about its hinge 9 so as to bring the edges I'I of the anges I2 against the edges I8 of the posts I4. When these parts are thus folded together, the edge I9 of the end flange I3 will engage the edge 20 of the narrower flange Il, and there will thereby be formed the carrying case shown in Fig. 4. `The yflange I3 is provided with a handle 2| by which the case can be carried and suitable fasteners 22 are provided for fastening together the meeting edges I9 and 20 of the flangesI3andII.

The legs 4 are hinged to the bottom sections 6 and 1 and in the present embodiment of my invention, I have shown four legs on each side of the crib. The legs 4 at the left hand end of the crib are hinged to the bottom section 6 by suitable hinges 23 and are adapted to be folded against the outside of the section 6. Similarly the legs 4a are hinged to the bottom section 6 by a hinge 24 so that they can be folded against the. outside of said section 6. The legs 4 and 4a are folded in opposite directions and when folded, the ends thereof meet as shown best'in Fig. 4. Similarly the leg 4b is pivoted to the bottom section I by the hinge 25, and the leg 4cl is pivoted to said section by the hinge 26. These legs 4b and 4c can thus be folded against the outside of the bottom rsection 'I and when thus folded, the ends of the legs meet. The legs can be held in their operative position in canalis? any suitable way, and as herein shown, there is employed for this purpose a toggle joint brace for each leg, each toggle joint comprising the two links 21, 28 which are pivoted together at 29, the link 21 being pivoted to the leg at 30 and the link 28 being pivoted to the bottom member at3l.

When the'toggle joints are in their straightened position shown in Fig. 2 they lock the legs in their operative crib-supporting position but by breaking the toggle joints inwardly the legs may be folded againstthe bottom sections 6 and 1 as above described. Each leg is shown as being provided with a recess 32 into which the toggle joint may be received when the leg is folded against the bottom member as shown in Fig. 4.

Each end member 2 is hinged atfits lower edge to the outer end of the corresponding bottom section 6 or 1 as indicated at 33, such hinge permitting the end section to be folded down against the body section as clearly shown in Fig. or to be opened up' into an upright position, in which position it rests against the inner face of the corresponding end,ilange I3 or I'I.

There are two side rail sections 3 at each side of the crib, and said side rail sections are hinged to the posts I4 to turn about vertical axes'so that they can be swung inwardly across the width of the crib to occupy a position between the posts. The two side sections 3 on one side of the crib are pivoted to the inside of one post I4 as shown at 34 and 35, while the two side sections 3 at the. other side of the crib are pivoted to the inside of the other post member I4 as shown at 36 and 31. The pivots 34 and 35 are spaced from each other as are also the pivots 36 and 31, and the first-named pivots 34, 35 have a staggered relation with respect to the pivots 36, 31. With thi-s construction, the side rails 3 can be swung about their pivots into positions extending transversely of the crib between the posts I4 as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, and the arrangement of the pivots is such that when the side sections are in their folded position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, they have an overlapping relation. 'I'he width of each post I4 is equal to the combined thickness of the four side rail -sections 3 so that when these side rail sections are folded as indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 1, they occupy the space -between the post elements I4.

Suitable means are provided for detachably connecting the ends of the side rail elements 3 to the top of the end member 2 when the crib is unfolded and is set up for use. Each end member 2 comprises two post elements 38 which are connected by an end board 39. Each end board 39 has a locking section 40 hinged to its upper edge as shown at 4I, and each' locking section 40 carries at each end a catch member 42 which, when the crib is set up, enters a. socket 43 formed in the end of the top rail of the side section 3. This top rail has a spring latch 44 which is adapted to engage in a notch 45 formed in the catch 42. Each latch 44 is provided with a stem 4B terminating in a knob 41 which is accessible at the top of the side member 3 and by which the latch can be disengaged from the catch. 48 indicates a spring encircling the stem and operating to yieldingly hold the latch in engagement with the catch. 'I'he latch 44 has a beveled face 49 and the end of the catch 42 is rounded so that when the locking member 40 is swung upwardly into its operative position, the end of the catch 42 will engage and wipe by the bevel face of the notch 45.

Means are provided for locking the ends of the lower member 50 of each side rail 3 to the posts 38 and I4 respectively when the crib is unfolded and is set up for use. For this purpose said lower member 50 of each side rail carries at each end a spring pressed locking bolt 5I, and the posts 38 and I4 are each provided with a recess v52 to receive the corresponding locking bolt. Each lockin bolt 5I is backed by a spring 53 and is provi ed with a handle 54 operating in a slot 55 formed in the member 50, said handle providing means by which the bolt can be retracted when the crib is to be folded.

When, therefore, the crib is set up for use, each side rail section 3 is firmly anchored to the posts 38 and I4 both at the top and at the bottom.

In folding the crib the locking latch 44 and locking pin 5I are released and the side members 3 are then swung about their pivots into their folded position between the posts 4 as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1. After this has been accomplished the end members 2 may be folded down against the bottom sections as indicated in Fig. 5, the locking elements 40 having previously been folded down against the end boards 39.

The end bottom sections 6 and 'I may then be folded up against the post elements 4 as also shown in Fig. 5 and the legs 4, 4a, 4b, 4c can then be folded down against the outside of the bottom sections 6 and 1. When the carrying case sections 6 and 1 are folded, the edges I9 and 20 of the end flanges I3 and II come together, thereby closing the carrying case. The catches 22 can then be manipulated to lock the case in its closed relation.

It should be remarked that the crib is provided with a mattress element 51 which is made in sections to permit it to fold when the carrying case sections 6 and 1 are folded together.

I claim:

1. A folding crib having a. bottom member comprising two end sections and a, central section interposed between the end sections, means pivotally connecting the inner end of each end section to the central section to turn about a hcrizontal axis, an end member pivoted to the outer end of each end section to turn about a horizontal axis and foldable inwardly and downwardly against said end section, two side rail sections at each side of the crib, means carried by the central section of the bottom member for pivotally mounting each side rail section to turn about a vertical axis from an operative position to a folded position extending transversely of the crib, said end sections of the bottom member with the end members folded thereagainst being foldable upwardly to form with the central sections a case enclosing the folded end members and side rail sections.

2. A folding crib having a bottom member comprising two end sections and a central section interposed between the end sections, means -pivotally connecting the inner end of each end section to the central section to turn about a horizontal axis, an end member pivoted to the outer end of each end section to turn about a horizontal axis and foldable inwardly and downwardly against said end section, a. post element extending upwardly fromeach side of the central section, two

side rail sections at each side of the curb, means pivotally connecting the inner end of each side rail section to the corresponding post to turn about a vertical axis from an operative position to a folded position extending transversely of the crib, said end sections of the bottom member with the endmembers folded thereagainst being foldable upwardly against the post elements to form with said post elements and the central section of the bottom a case that encloses the folded end members and side rail sections.

3. A folding crib having a bottom member comprising a central section and two end sections pivoted to opposite edges thereof, said central section having an upstanding post element at each side of the crib, an end member pivoted tothe outer end of each end section to turn about a horizontal axis relative to the end section and foldable inwardly and downwardly against said end section, side rail sections pivoted at their inner ends to the post elements toturn relative to said post elements about vertical axesand swingable from their operative positions at the side of the crib into folded positions extending transversely of the crib between the post elements, means for detachably connecting the outer ends oi' the side rail sections to the end members, said end sections of the bottom member with the end members folded thereagainst being foldable upwardly against the post elements to form therewith a case that encloses the folded end members and side rail sections, and supporting legs pivoted to the end sections of the bottom member and foldable against the latter when said end sections are in their folded position.

4. A folding crib having a bottom member comprising two end sections including upstanding flanges and a central section interposed between said end sections, an end member pivoted to the outer end of each end section to turn about a horiaantal axis and foldable inwardly and downwardly against said end section, two side rail sections at each side of the crib, means pivotally supporting each side rail section on a bottom member section for inward folding movement, and means' pivotally connecting the inner end of each end section of the bottom member to the central section to turn about a horizontal axis, said end sections with the end members folded down thereagainst being foldable upwardly into a position at right angles to the central section, said end sections when thus folded constituting the two sides and the top of a carrying case which encloses the folded end members and side rail sections, the bottom of such carrying case being constituted by the central section.

5. Av folding crib having a bottom member comprising two end sections and a central section interposed between the end sections, an end member pivoted to the outer end of each end section to turn about a horizontal axis and foldable inwardly and downwardly against said end section, two inwardly folding side rail sections at each side of the crib, means pivotally supporting each side rail section on a bottom member section for inward folding movement, and means pivotally connecting the inner end of each end section of the bottom member to the central section to turn about a horizontal axis, each end section having an upstanding flange at each side and at its outer end, said end sections with the end members folded thereagainst being foldable upwardly into a position at right angles to the central section, each end section when in its folded position constituting with its upstanding flanges one side and part of each end and top of a carrying case which encloses the folded end members and side rail section, the bottom of which is constituted by the central section.

6. A folding crib comprising a plurality of pivotally connected bottom member sections foldable together, one of said sections being so shaped as to constitute one side and part of each end and the top of a carrying case and another said sec- -tion being so shaped as to constitute the opposite side and part of each end and top of said carrying case when said sections are folded together, an end member pivotally connected to the bottom member section at each end of the unfolded crib. each end member being foldable inwardly and downwardly against the corresponding bottom section, two side rail sections at each side of the crib, and means pivotally mounting each side rail section on a bottom member section for inward folding movement, whereby when said side rail sections and end members have been moved to folded positions, the bottom member sections may be folded together to form a carrying case which encloses the folded side rail sections and end members.

DAVID D. LEAVI'IT. 

